I read with interest the articles by George Thomas and by Neha Madhiwalla and Nobhojit Roy. The authors suggest that factors like poor working conditions, communication failure and inadequate facilities are evidently responsible for the increased friction between patients and doctors. In addition, I believe the undercurrent of resentment about reservation of seats in medical colleges contributes to the stress and violence. The recent strikes are over but the issue is unlikely to die down because urban, middle-class India remains severely polarised about caste-based quotas.